Government move to protect tenants

Plans for a scheme aimed at protecting tenants from rogue landlords have been confirmed by the government today.

Proposals for a private landlord register have been unveiled by the government in a bid to increase consumer protection as the number of amateur landlords entering the buy-to-let market increase.

Under the scheme, all private landlords across England will be required to sign the register, including buy-to-let investors, developers, professional landlords, and the increasing number of "accidental landlords" – i.e. those homeowners who, unable to sell their houses, have been forced to rent them out. The scheme will also involve full regulation of all property letting and management agents.

At the present time, only around 50% of agents in England are reported to be signed up with professional schemes. The news of the government measures look set to be welcomed by people renting property in England.

After signing up to the register, landlords would be allowed to use it in order to market their properties for rent to potential tenants and could incorporate information about any other professional schemes which they are members of.

In order to join the register, all landlords would be required to pay an annual fee, satisfy set entry criteria, and subsequently follow a code of practice, including an obligation to only rent out homes which meet decent property standards.

Under the government plans, those landlords who failed to abide by the rules of the register or who had a substantial amount of complaints made against them could be struck off the register and lose their properties.

"With almost 3 million private tenants in the country, the private rented sector plays a vital role in providing choice and flexibility in the housing market," said the housing minister, Margaret Beckett.

"That's why we need to ensure tenants have the protection they deserve, the many decent landlords receive the support they need, and those landlords whose performance is inadequate either improve or leave the sector."

Source: Guardian.co.uk | Last updated: 13th May 2009

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